It is one of the board game category, which is also a great party game for children as well as for the adults. These game is played among two to four players.
The objective of the game is to make the highest score among the other teams by creating/making the number of words as you can.
Equipment of game:
This game requires the scrabble board, 100 letters tile, 4 letter racks, a pouch and a dictionary.
The Board:
The board consists of 225 squares with 15 rows and 15 columns. There are 100 tiles of letters on them, which are used to make the words. Each tile has its letter as well as a number which is shown on it, that represents the point value of the letter. The point ranges from the 1 to 10 with one exception is the blank tiles. There are two blank tiles which may be used to represent any letter while making a word, but it has no worth without any points. All the tiles are kept in the pouch and included while playing the game.
How to play the game:
Before starting the game, the player should toss a coin to decide who will play the first turn. Both the players should agree to use the dictionary in the game.
The player, who gets the first turn, selects the seven tiles from the pouch and places them on his rack. Once all the players have their tiles then the game ready to begin.
The first player combines two or more of his letter to form a word. Here at least two letters must be used since it is first turn. The word should be made either in the vertical or horizontal directions and make sure that one of the letters should be placed on the center square, because the center has a bonus of double word score and it only applies to the first word. The score of the bonus point is tallied and added to the first players score. The first player completes the turn when he selects as many letters as just he did in the first turn. But the player should always have only seven tiles in his rack as long as there is enough remaining in the pouch.
Then now the next player is given his turn to add his tiles to existing tiles. He must add one or more tiles to existing tiles to form a new word. Same as the first player the score is tallied and added to his total score. In this manner the game will continuous until the game ends.
If the player uses up all his tiles to form a new word, s/he is gets a bonus of 50 points added to his total score.
If you cannot able to make a single word from the selected tiles, you have a chance to change your tiles from your pouch by replacing them but again you need to select only seven tiles according to rules.
When the blank tiles are placed, the player must indicate with what letter the blank tile is represented. That will represent indicated letter as the remainder for the game.
If you place a word in your turn by using your tiles and the opponent think that the word you made is does not exist then you can make challenge with the opponent. If the word exist/found in the dictionary then the opponent will lose his next turn. If the word does not exist/ found in the dictionary then you will lose your opportunity/turn.
Here the game will end when all the players drawn his tiles from his pouch or either when one player uses all his tiles or no word can be formed with the existing tiles.
The score:
The score is given on the basis of the word when the player forms. The sum of the letter values in that turn and bonus points obtained from the premier squares which are found on the various squares of the board. Here are two premium squares that are premium letter squares and the premium word squares. The premium letter square is either double (light blue square) or triple (dark blue square) the value of the letter placed on it. The premium word squares is also either double (pink square) or triple (red square) the total score of the word which has a letter placed on it. The premium bonuses are only counted for the turn which is played in. In the subsequent turns, the letters on premier squares are only worth their letter values.
When the game ends, each players score is reduced by total value of his tiles usage. If the player has used all his tiles then his score is added by the other players remaining tiles values. After making all the additions the player who got the higher score declared as the winner. If in the case of tie after adding the scores then the player who got the higher score before adding/deducting the points for unused letters will declared as winner.
Benefits of playing scrabble:
It improves the vocabulary of the person, teaches spelling skills, enhances mathematical skills, develops critical thinking, improves memory and sharpens the brain, improves concentration.